Apparatus for and process of finishing hosiery and knit goods



septQ14 1926. 1,599,591 Y TQ F. SHATTERS APPARATUS FOR AND PROCESS OFFINISHING HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS y Filed sept. 2a, m25 154 52- PatentedSept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1 f 1,599,591 ra'rsN'r orrics.

TIILIE F. SIIATTERS, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BURSON KNI'ITINGCOM- PANY, F RCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR AND PROCESS OF FINISHING I'IGSIEEY ANI) KNIT GOODS.

Application filed September My invention relates to improvements inapparatus for and process of finishing hosiery and knit goods.

My invention primarily concerns itself 6 with the ironing, pressing,steaming, Ior

final finishing of fancy knit socks and stockings. One type of popular,fancy knit stocking is one wherein the toe and the heel pocket areknitted with so-called plain or balbriggan knitting; the balance of thefoot, including both the sole and top, the instep and the leg, are knitwith a fancy stitch, which may be a drop stitch, a tuck stitch or anyother type of fancy knitting, and the top of the stocking or sock ismade of a hem or a selvedge portion, as the case may be, which also isplain or balbriggan knitting.

Experience shows that the value of the stocking depends upon the raisedappearance of the fancy knitting in the top of the foot, the instep andthe leg, and if this raised or fancy knit portion is ironed down theappearance of the stocking is greatly damaged. On the other hand,experience shows that it is desirable to iron or press the toe, theheel, and the top where the plain knitting occurs and also the solewhere the fancy knitting occurs. Experience also shows that the appearance of the stocking is greatly enhanced if the fancy knit portionwhich is not to be ironed or pressed is lightly steamed and thenstretched, because this raises yor brings out the beauty of the fabric.

In carrying out my process the stocking, which is usually in acomparatively dry condition, is boarded or placed on a thin board orform. The operator then irons the toe, the heel, the sole and the top,but carefully refrains from ironing the balance of the stocking. Thisironing may be done by means of an ordinary hand iron and wet cloth, ormay be done by means of a heated iron containing steam, with holes inthe bottom through which the steam escapes to moisten the fabric as isnecessary and well known in connection with ironing fabrics. The.steaming of the lbalance or unironed portion may be done by placing theiron with its escaping steam just above the stocking. so as to allow thesteam to come in contact with the stocking, care being taken that theiron does not contact. This process is carried out first on one side ofthe stocking, and then on the other side: then the board is withdrawnfrom the stocking, the operator takes hold 28, 1925. Serial No. 59,236.

of the top and bottom of the stocking, stretches it lightly, and lays itout fiat before boxing.

In another exemplification of my process the stocking is boarded andthen, instead of 00 being iron-ed, is pressed on the board between thesurfaces of a press, the surfaces being so arranged as to contact onlythe heel, toe and sole, and the same press at the same time, or adifferent `press or the same press at a 05 different time, can then beused to press the top of the stocking. The operator then withdraws thestocking from the board and, holding it at both ends, passes it betweentwo pipes from which thin steam jets are projected, so that the fancyknit portion of the stocking passes through the .steam zone and is theresteamed; yor this can be done before the stocking is removed from theboard, as the case may be.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic showing of aniron suitable for my purpose; l

Figure 2, a stocking on a board;

Figure 3, the piping arrangement whereby the steaming may be donewithout the use of an iron, and

Figure 4, a section on the line 4 4 of 85 Fig. 3. y

The press is not shown because the press may be any one of manysuitable, well known types and the details of the press form no part ofmy present invention.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the drawings andspecification.

A'is a stocking, A1 the top, A2 the toe, -A8 the heel pocket. Theseparts A1, A2, A3 areV y made of ordinary flat or balbriggan knit- 95ting. A4 is the sole of the foot, A5 the top,

A6 the instep, A7 the leg. All these parts, A4, A5, A, A7, are fancyknitting.

B is a work table upon which stockings may be rested while they areawaiting finish- 100 ing and after finishing. B1 is a steam supply'pipe. From it lead upper and lower steam jet pipes, B2, B3, these pipesextending from Ts B4, B5 on the pipe B1 and being provided with valvesB6, B7, to control the flow of steam. These pipes B2, B3 are capped asat Bs. The upper pipe has a plurality of downwardly and outwardlydischarging steam yorifices B9, and the lower' pipe B3 a plurality ofupwardly and out- 110 wardly discharging steam orifices B10. It will beunderstood' that the steam is discharged from these orifices along thedotted lines B11, thus forming a steam Zone between the two pipesthrough which the stocking may be passed to nioisten and steam it.

C is the iron. It is provided with an electric conductor C1 leading toheating coils, not here shown. It hasa handle C2, a steam pipe C3controlled by a Valve C4, and perforations C5 in the bottoni of the ironwhereby steam may escape under control of the valve, to meisten or steamany work beneath the iron.

I claim: 'f

l. The process of finishing stockings which consists in boarding thecompleted stocking, pressing the toe, sole, heel and top of thestocking, and then separately steaming that portion of the stockingwhich has not been pressed.

2. The process of nishing stockings which consists in boarding thecoinpletedl stocking, pressing the toe, sole, heel and top of thestocking, and then separately steaming that portion of the stockingwhich has not been pressed and while the stocking is on a board.

3. The process of finishing a stocking which consists in compressingpart of the stocking between two relatively smooth surfaces and insteaming and stretching that part o'fthe stocking not otherwise treated;

Signed at Rockford, county ofl Winnebago and State of Illinois, this19th day of September, 1925. s

TLLIE F. SEATTIERS.4

